András Vavrinecz and Attila Csávás founded our ensemble on 28th February, 1992, at 2.30 P.M. in a bar, called Ampelos with the participation of four small bottles of Gösser beer.
The name came from Zoltán Juhász's dog, called BEKECS. As one characteristic mountain near the Nyárád river in Transylvania is also called Bekecs and the music of the 'Székelyföld' is very popular in the group, all of us were very happy to have this name.

In the first formation we worked together for one and a half years. We gave concerts all around the country, took part at the Trades Festivities at the Buda Castle and at the National Dance House Meeting and also regularly guest performed abroad. All these programs claimed many – many hours of rehearsal and contacts. After one year Zoltán Nagy started to work with us. He plays several instruments beside the cimbalom, and he also has a very good singing voice. During the first three years Katalin Szvorák was our singer.

Since January 1995 we have a new singer: Marianna Majorosi, dancer of the State Folk Ensemble and Young Master of Folk Art in the folk song category.

Our new cassette came out in the Spring of 1995. On this cassette we play the music of nationalities living in Hungary and in the Carpathian basin as well as Hungarian folk music. We always enlarge our repertoire and, if required, we also include colourful dance parts in our programs.

In 1995 we have toured a lot. Some places proved to be quite exciting. We spent two weeks in Israel with the Forrás Ensemble, where we had Arabic gunmen participating at more than one of our concerts. Then we had successful performances in Estonia at an international festival with cheerful atmosphere, after having flown round half of Europe. In August we participated at a hurdy – gurdy festival in France by invitation, with Katalin Szvorák.

Beside all these we always have performances here in Hungary, we give independent concerts, we regularly play for dance ensembles and in dance houses and theaters, such as in the Nemzeti (National) and the Várszínház.

The ensemble is often invited to play at weddings. On these occasions we, of course, don't only play Hungarian folk music, but any other type that is asked for. Last summer we gave a concert at the Budapest Farewell, we participated at the Opening Dance House Ball and the Day of the Music in the Méta Club.

At present we have children and adult dance houses in Ráckeve and Dunakeszi every two weeks and from time to time we are the substitute group in Molnár utca or in the Téka Club.

We generally prepare our programs on the basis of our own collected materials, we regularly go to the counties of Somogy and Szatmár, to Slovakia and Transylvania to collect.

Publications:

– "Szvorák Kati és a Bekecs" cassette, '92
– "Szvorák Kati és a Bekecs – Live" cassette, CD '93
– "Tavaszvilág" – cassette of Katalin Szvorák
– "Az szép piros hajnal" cassette '95 – "Táncháztalálkozó" (Dance House Meeting) '93, '94, '95, CD

he Members of the Ensemble:

Marianna Majorosi – voice

András Vavrinecz – violin

Attila Csávás – clarinet, bagpipe, viola, tilinkó, flute, zither

András Nagy – contra – bass, gardon, koboz, zither

Zoltán Nagy – voice, cimbalom, bagpipe, tambura, koboz, viola

Information: András Vavrinecz, H – 1201 Budapest, Alsóteleki út 2/a III./7
Tel: (36-1) 284 – 3657, (36-1)201 – 3766/34, Fax: (36-1) 201 – 5164